RMA Paddock Club at Silverstone

[Paul Thompson 'Hooligan']

Hi all,

Just had a great day at Silverstone with Julian Kingston-Smith and friends at an RMA Paddock Club event and it was GREAT!!

Jools has had a few 'issues' with his own GTD40 recently, missing much time at previous Club events, so today, to be sure, we arranged for 2 cars to be available for him, just-in-case.

GTD Club members Bjorn Arnils and Malcolm MacAdam provided cars in the shape of an MG SV and a Mk1 GTD and Jools loved every second of his day. There was also a lot of other serious metal there too and seasoned professionals - including Willie Green and Peter Hardman. Cars included Ferrari's F50, 330LM, 250GTO and a 'Ballistic' prototype for the F40 based on a 288?.... With approx 656BHP on tap and a sub 900 KG weight, no wonder it was quick.

Bjorn's SV is an all Carbon Fibre Monocoque, powered by a Mustang 4.6L 32v motor that worked really well. It stopped well too with big Brembo calipers although it was flippin' thirsty...

Malcolm's GTD had freshly installed antirollbars that he'd fabricated and with Julian at the wheel, they dialled it in during the course of the day, improving front push by adjusting the rear roll bar, handling has been improved no end and Malc was well pleased with his recent John Wisher uprights he's fitted.... (the best his car has been in a long time I should think - possibly ever..)

Malc also had two visiting Dutch forum members in attendance, John and Ed, as John was very interested in purchasing a GT40 and was visiting as many UK sources as possible. They both seemed to enjoy themselves, despite John's Peugeot having a wheel bearing failure the previous day...

A BIG thanks to Bjorn and Malc - for putting a large grin on Julians face ALL DAY

Anyway, to save me rambling on, here's a few piccy's of the proceedings...

 

[Brian Magee]

I love the registration on the what ever it is !!!

Brian.

 

[Paul Thompson 'Hooligan']

Hi Brian -

The 'whatever it is' is Bjorn's MG SV - - LOTs of FUN!

and the Silver F50 above in front of Malcs' 40, see's Peter Hardman taking 'John' for a couple of laps - not something he'll forget I would think.

 

[Keith]

Hey Paul, what is the second Ferrari pictured? Not familiar with that nose cone at all... Presumably the engine shot of the twin turbo'd item is the same car......

Thanks,

 

[Malcolm]

288 GTO Evolutione, one of three made.

 

[Paul Thompson 'Hooligan']

Hi Keith -

I was talking to the support engineer (Jason) of

Tim Smaways - Sporting & Historic Cars Ltd

and apparently it was the #3 development car for the 'F40' - I think he said it was a very modified 288 (which I'd not heard of) but now running Motec M48 engine management - which they were looking to change to M800/M880 in the near future.

It ran about 1.8Bar? - and they recorded 656BHP on their dyno with it which in a chassis weighing about 890Kg must make it flippin' quick!
I saw Peter Hardman out in it and on returning to the pits reported a loose front wheel, which turned out to be a broken front wishbone. This was replaced and then out again it went.

Funnily enough, Jools was hanging on to it, in fact right up it's chuff for 2-3 laps at one point, and then they put their foot down and Jools said it 'LEFT HIM FOR DEAD' on the straight as the boost kicked in. Ooh the wonder of turbos........

Addendum: - Found the following link to a '288' conversion - not the same, but interesting none the less. Not sure about the rear scoops though - look a bit 'wacky racers' to me...

1981 Ferrari 308/288 GTO Conversion Serial Number 034555*-*Front view

 

[Edwin Cosworth]

Hello,

I had a fantastic day, again I like to thank Macolm for having us for a few days.
Thanks to Paul for helping me when the peugeot broke down on the M25 and thanks to Julian for being who he is.
I haven't made much pictures but here's one of the best looking car that day.

 

[Paul Thompson 'Hooligan']

here's one of the best looking car that day.

Oop's Edwin - I think you've posted a photo of the wrong car!!:lol::lol::lol:
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Only Joking Malc (stay on your perch)... your car looks FAB! - by far the best I've seen it I think. A credit to all the work you and Glen have lavished on it recently.. with a Lee Dawson Bubble too??

I look forward to a drive at a future date as the handling is also much improved I'm informed. A big thunbs up all round.

Edwin - Nice to meet both you and John and as a fellow Cosworth owner it was great to talk tuning bits etc. Now set your plans, get the 803s and wind that boost up to 1.5/1.6 Bar for even more FUN!epper:

 

[Malcolm]

Oop's Edwin - I think you've posted a photo of the wrong car!!:lol::lol::lol:
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Cheers Paul! and to think I just put you on the insurance. Actually I fancy a go in the 288 Evolutione, that looks mean! But the best bit was when Julian (driving) and I were out in my car and we got passed by Willie Green in the Aston as we went through Bridge, he had flames pouring out the side pipes in a perfect drift leaving two black tyre marks as the car slid for maybe 50 yards! Sheer magic. And the noise was fab too. If you ever get the chance to follow these pros at work, take it as it is very revealing as to their talent!

The bubble is a Lee Dawson one, he can still supply all or any GTD bodyshell parts as required. He also made me two new sill panels as the last pair had taken a bit of a beating over the years!

 

[John S]

What a fantastic day we've had!
The 'lightweight' MG was a lot of fun, although I would have taken it sideways all around the circuit. It is that kind of car.

Testing Malcolm's 40 (sitting next to Julian) and discussing the set up was a lot of fun and Peter Hardman showing me the lines and how to be smooth at Silverstone with the Ferrari F50 made a perfect end to the day (although Bobby Verdon Roe was to take me out in the GTO Evoluzione when the car spit out a great part of it's coolant).

Speaking of which, back in 1984 Ferrari put the limited 288 GTO onto the market (they only produced 272 with the last car being sold to Niki Lauda). This was done to comply with the rules of Group B racing of the day. So based on the 288 GTO (road car) Ferrari developed the GTO Evoluzione for Group B racing (both circuit racing and rallying). Back in those days Porsche developed the 959 for Group B racing as well.
After the debacle in Group B rallying it (Group B that is) was effectively banned and Ferrari used their three prototype GTO Evoluziones as development cars, testing the use of kevlar and it's derivatives for bodywork and chassis, and turbos for road cars (they also had the 2 litre turbo version of the 308/328 for the Italian market at the time).
Coincidentally, Ferrari was thinking of a special car to commemorate their 40th year as a company and then used what they learned from the GTO Evoluzione to create the F40.
Only three prototypes were ever made. Funnily enough there were also three prototypes before the GTO Evoluzione with normally aspirated engines that look a bit like a small version of the Evoluzione. These were called 308 GT/M and would make great trackday cars. But that's another story (I'll try to find some pictures of one these tonight).

Anyway, thought I'd post some pictures to this thread.

Thanks Julian (I enjoyed sliding round Silverstone), Malcolm (I'll post a different thread) and Paul (without you we would still be standing on the hard shoulder of the M25).

John

 

[Fran Hall RCR]

Malcolm,

Why didn't you use the Wealden Engineering anti-roll bars???....

 

[Malcolm]

Stop stirring Fran, I get into enough trouble on my own!!!!!!! Really.....

I adapted my own existing bars by welding on some plates with holes for adjustment so actually no need to consider anyone else for the work. Total job cost £30 for proper welding that I can't do. Any standard GTD bar can be adapted this way as it is a very simple job. Especially if you have a small lathe to make drop links.

These dutch guys take good pictures, really sharp images. You would have thought they would have suffered pixel drift with all they said about drifting this, and drifting that....still a pleasure having you to stay.

 

[Paul Thompson 'Hooligan']

Stop stirring Fran, I get into enough trouble on my own!!!!!!! Really.....

:lol::lol::lol:
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These dutch guys take good pictures, really sharp images.

I'll second that Malc - very good pic's John, next time we speak I'll be picking your brains for pointers...

 

[Fran Hall RCR]

....that was a serious question....honest.....

 

[VCC56]

"The 'lightweight' MG was a lot of fun, although I would have taken it sideways all around the circuit. It is that kind of car."

Spot on, mate!!

 

[John S]

Paul,

Here are some pictures I took some years ago of the 308 GT/M I was referring to. It is sort of a small version of the GTO Evoluzione/F40. I included some detailed technical shots which might be appreciated by some other people.

I also included one pic of my Cossie at the private Mas du Clos circuit with the FOC UK.

John

 

[Paul Thompson 'Hooligan']

Thanks John - interesting piccys indeed.

I can well see how Ferrari manage to 'keep it light', looking at the chassis construction front and rear...

Nice Cossie, 86/87? - of course an RS500 would have been even nicer...

 

[Edwin Cosworth]

Oop's Edwin - I think you've posted a photo of the wrong car!!:lol::lol::lol:

I know, It should have been a Cosworth, but there wasn't one.

Edwin - Nice to meet both you and John and as a fellow Cosworth owner it was great to talk tuning bits etc. Now set your plans, get the 803s and wind that boost up to 1.5/1.6 Bar for even more FUN!epper:

Nice meeting you to, Paul, and thanks again for rescueing me of the M25's hard shoulder
The 803's are defenitly the way I will go

 

[Edwin Cosworth]

some more pics of mine.

Will I fit in ??

I am looking at you

John at Mulsan Corner

Back in the Pits

Rear

Exposed

Malcolms home made adjustable rear anti roll bar, works perfect

A Ferrari 330LMB on two wheels

Ferrari 330LMB and 250LM

Ferrari 330LMB, 250LM and 288 GTO Evolutione

The office of the Ferrari 288 GTO Evolutione

Porsche

Another Porsche

One of Julian's rides today

John back form a lap with Peter Hartman

Bleu Car

Flying Julian

Me on a SPA track day in my Cosworth.

 

[John S]

Just got the magazines back home and the Peugeot .
All in one piece (it took the colleting driver 19 hours to get to the car and deliver it to my door) and Dave Parker did an excellent job for a very fair price. Thanks a lot Dave!

John